The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-04

took occasion 20 ask tue travellers tho ieAi
morning how they liked their room. They
left him 20 judge for himself how well they
were satisfied, by remaining a day longer IN
Venice than they had originally planned toe do,
solely for the purpose OF enjoying the excee
lent accommodation offered 10 them by the
new hotel. We have met with nothing like II
in Italy" they said; "you may rely on our re.
commenting you TO all our friends"
On the day when Number Fourteen was
again vacant an English lady, travelling
alone with Der maid arrived at the hotel,
saw the room, and at once engaged 1t.
The lady was Mrs. Norbury. She had left
Francis Westwick at Milan, occupied in neo-
gotiating for the appearance at bis theatre Of
the new dancer at tue Scala Not having
heard to the contrary, Mrs Norbury sup
posed that Arthur Bnvills and his wife had
arrived at Venice. She was more interested
in meeting the young married couple than in
waiting the result Of the hard bargaining
which delayed the engagement Of the new
dancer; and she volunteered TO make her
brotber's apologies if bis theatrical business
caused him to be late IN keeping his appoint
mcnt at the honeymoon festival
Mis-. Norbury's experience Of Number
Fourteen differed entirely from Der brother
Henry's experience Of the room.
Falling asleep as readily as usual, her re-
pose was disturbed by a succession OF fright
tul dreams; the central figure in every one Of
them being the figure OF her dead brother
tue first Lord MOntbaTy. She saw him
starving in a loathsOme prison, she saw him
pursued by assassins, and dying under their
knives, sIe saw him drowning IN immeasur-
able depths Of dark water; ie saw him in a
bed Of fire, burning 10 death in the flames
She saw him tempted ty d shadOwy creature
TO drink, and dying Of the poisonous draught.
The reiterated horror OF these dreams had
such am effect Oh her that She rose with the
dawn Of day, afraid TO trust herself again in
bed. In the old times she had been noted III
the family as the one member OF 10 who lived
on aiiectiouate terms with Montbarry His
other sister and lis brothers were constantly
luarreiing with him. Even his mother owned
that her eldest son was, OF all her children,
the child whom she least liked. Sensible and
resolute woman as she was, Mrs. Norbury
shuddered with terror as she sat at The win
dow Of Der room watching tue sunrise and
thinking of her dreams.
She made the FIST excuse that occurred 10
her when her maid came IN at the usual hour
and noticed how i'll she looked. The woman
was OF 50 superstitious a temperament that IL
would have been IN the last degree indiscreet
10 trust her with the truth. Mrs Norbury
merely remarked that she bad not found the
bed quite ~ her liking on account Of the
arge size Of IT, Sue was accustomed at home,
as her maid knew, 70 sleep ~ a small bed.
Informed of this objection later in the day,
tue manager regretted that he could only
offer the lady the choice OF one other bed
chamber, numbered Thirty eight, and stu
ated Immediately over the bedchamber
which sue desired % leave Ms Norbur,
accepted the proposed change Of quarters.
She was now about TO pas her second night
IN the room occupied III the old days OF the
palace by Baron Rivar.
Once more she fell asleep as usual And
once more the frigbtlul dreams Of the first
night terrified her, following each other in
the same succession. This time her nerves,
already shaken. we're not equal TO the re-
newed torture OF terror inflicted on them.
She threw OH her dressing gown and rushed
out OF her room IN the middle Of the night
The porter, alarmed 10y the banging Of the
door, met her hurryng headl0ng down the
stairs in search Of tue first human being she
could find 70 keep Der company. Consider
ably surprised at this last manifestation
the famous English eccenulclty," the ma.
looked at the hotel register and led the lady
upstairs again - the room occupied by her
maid. The maid was not asleep, and more
wonderful still, was not even uudn>sed. She
received her mistress quietly. When they
were alone, and when AIRS Norbury had, as
a matter Of necessity, taken her attendant
into her confidence, the woman made very
strange reply.
II have been asking about the ho,ol at tho
servants supper tonight" she aid. Tho
valet Of one Of the gentlemen staying hero
has heard that the late Lord Montnerry was
the last person who lived IN the palace before
t was made into hotel. The room he died
IN, ma'am was the room you slept IN last
night Your room 10 might Is the room just
above it. / said nothing FOR fear OF fright
sning you. For my own part, have passed
the night as You see, keeping my light m and
reading my Bible In my opinion, uo menl-
Der OF your family can hope 70 be happy or
comfortable in this house
"What do you meanf
"Please 10 let me explain myself. ma'am.
When Mr. Henry Westwcz YVES lore-l have
tins from the valet, tool occupied tHeio1m
his brother died in without lNoui r I--fse
you. For two nights be never c.l-eI l.,.,,.
Without any reason for It-tle y...r lizard
bim tell the gentlemen 10 tle cot ..r.om-ne
could not sleep: he feltso low alN. niot.h
in himself And, what is more. vixen alv-
time came, be couldn't even cat while hs was
under this roof. You may lalel lt me,
ma'am-but even a servant may draw her
own conclusions. lbs my conclusion that
something happened 90 my iori. winch wo
none of as know about, when bee died Tn this
house. Ills ghost walks IN torment until be
Fan tell ill The living persons related To- him
are the persons who feel he is near them-th-
persons Who may yet see him in the time u
come. Don't, pray don't stay any longer in
this dread al placei l wouldn't stay another
night here myseif-no, not for anything
HAT could - e+ysreA -aAr